Thread-protector and method of making same



P. J. SHRUM.

THREAD PROTECTOR AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

APPLICATION FILED AUG 20, I918.

1,347,765. e d ly 27, 1920.

% aw 7 fiww UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PETER J. SERUM, 01' MONACA HEIGHTS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GOLONA MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1920.

Application filed August 20, 1918. Serial No. 250,732.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, PETER J. SERUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monaca Hei hts, in the county of Beaver and State of Fennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thread- Protectors and Methods of Making Same, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in an improvement in thread protectors and the method of making the same. The thread protector consists of a threaded sleeve adapted to be screwed upon the end of a threaded pipe to substantially cover the threads thereon and 1s provided at its outer end with an annular limiting abutment ring held within the end portion of the protector by the swaged-over terminal thereof.

In manufacturing the protector, I preferably utilize ordinary pipe couplings which are cut transversely at the middle providlng sufficient stock for two protectors. However, an original annular band may be used with the threads cut therein and otherwise shaped and manipulated to provide the same resulting device. I

In the drawings which illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention and the steps of its manufacture, and application of use,

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectlon of the protector blank with the annular abutment ring in position prior to swagmg;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the completed protector; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the device applied to the end of the threaded pipe.

he protector consists of an annular band 2 of metal, preferably iron, having a threaded interior as indicated at 3, and preferably unthreaded fora short distance back from its applying end as indicated at 4, providing a rearwardly extending protecting coping portion. If preferred, however, the band may be threaded throughout its length rearwardly from the abutting or limiting ring. In some cases, ordinary couplers, or parts of couplers, which are sometimes used in the making of my improved protector, are provided with a short unthreaded ortion, which is thus utilized .in making t e complete protector, there being ample threaded engagement for securing the device in position.

At its other end the protector blank is reamed out back to about the depth or root of the threads, as indicated at 5, and of sufficient length to permit of the insertion of the annular inner retaining abutment ring 6. Said ring, as hown, extends inwardly by its body portion a suflicient' distance, say onehal of its own diameter, to extend inwardly beyond the inner diameter of the protector" threads, so that when applied as in Fig. 3, it will abut against the end of the pipe 7 and thus limit the screwing on movement of the protector, so that it may be applied with amply tight engagement to insure its remaining in position during shipment of the pipe.

For the purpose of retaining the abutment ring 6 in position, the reamed out clearance enlargement 5 is made sufliciently deep to admit of the insertion of ring 6 somewhat below the outer edge portion 8 of the blank, so that it may be swaged over into holding engagement with the ring by the use of suitable dies, as indicated at 9, Figs. 2 and 3.

The outer end portion of the blank is either originally rounded as in the case of an ordinary half coupling when used, or is turned down to provide such rounded portion, as indicated at 10, so that when the blank is pressed between oppositely acting dies, the terminal 8 will be swaged over into holding engagement with the abutment ring, as shown. I use specially formed dies for such purpose, similar to'those illustrated and described in my patent of November 4, 1919, No. 1,320,501.

When thus swaged over, abutment ring 6 is fixedly held in position so that the protector as made can be screwed upon the end of the pipe, its rear portion bein also preferably rounded or finished as in 'cated at 11, to avoid any rough or projecting sharp portions.

The device as thus made is of standard diameters and sizes of thread, to suit each size of pipe. It is strong and substantial, and the holding elficiency of the inserted abutment ring is considerably greater than in the case of protectors having a merely turned in integral edge ortion, which can not ordinarily be made 0 sufficient thickness and strength to maintain continued efficiency under the rough usage and shocks i d n a i s use,

The invention and its method of manufacture will be readily understood and appreciated from the foregoing description by all those familiar with this class of devices. It is economical of cost, durable and capable of continued use by providing very efficiently for the protection of the pipe threads in transit or handling.

-Another feature of great advantage is that the substantial end ring and its holding swaged over portion provide a very efficient protection for the end of the pipe itself.

The protector may be changed or modified in construction as to size of parts, design or otherwise, by the skilled mechanic, but all such changes are to be considered as within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. The method of manufacturing thread protectors consisting in reaming a threaded blank to provide a receiving seat adjoining the base of the endmost thread, then inserting a retainingring within the receiving seat with a portion of its body portion extending inwardly beyond the threads pro- Viding an annular abutment, and then swaging over the end portion of the blank into retaining engagement with the ring.

2. A thread protector consisting of an interiorly threaded annular blank provided with an annular receiving seat at the end of the threaded portion and eo-extensive with the thread base, an inserted abutment ring therein extending inwardly beyond the crown of the threads, and an outer swaged over ring retaining portion.

3. A thread protector consisting of an integral annular blank threaded at its middle portion and provided at one end with an annular ring-retaining seat formed against one end of the threaded portion and coextensive with the radial depth of the threads, a ring seated therein generally cylindrical in cross section and extending inwardly beyond the crown of the threads to provide an endmost annular retaining abutment, and an outer swaged over ring retaining portion of the blank extending inwardly of the outer thickness of the ring.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

PETER J. SHRUM. 

